Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c23.353

v1.c23.353

2. Dāṭhāsiva.—Minister of Jeṭṭhatissa III. He was captured by the forces of Aggabodhi III. at Māyetti, but later regained his freedom and was sent by Jeṭṭhatissa to India to cut off Aggabodhi's rearward communications. When Jeṭṭhatissa committed suicide and Aggabodhi was once more king, Dāṭhāsiva returned to Ceylon, defeated Aggabodhi and became king as Dāṭhopatissa. But his reign was insecure and he was constantly having to flee. He was very rapacious and plundered the temples. Later, to make amends, he built the Sākavatthu-vihāra and restored the Thūpārāma. In the end he fled to India from Kassapa II., but returned later and fought a battle in which he was killed.¹ He had a nephew, Haṭṭhadāṭha,² who became known as Bhāgineyya-Dāṭhopatissa. The prince Bodhi and the princess Lokitā were descendants of Dāṭhopatissa.³